About Me

I tend to call myself an artistic compositor because I use and work in all areas of art & creativity and now that we have the use of Ai and digital programs the different areas of the arts can be merged and realized into a new realm of expression - hence the title Artistic Composites. Before this new artistic age I explored each medium separately.

In the creative word area of the arts I have scribed many short stories, a number of children's books, several philosophical articles, a comprehensive amount of poetry and more recently, I have turned my attention to song writing.

Several of these stories, articles and poems have been published in a plethora of magazines worldwide and for a decade or so, I published my own small press magazines such as 'The Word', ‘The Poet Tree’, 'A Bard Hair Day', and 'ImageNation'.

In the visual mediums of art I sketch, paint and take photographs. In the past I spent many hours laboring away in my darkroom developing negatives and making prints. Not so much now that the digital age has embedded itself into that particular medium with negatives and positives becoming as obsolete as Polaroid pictures.

Much of my artistic material has been stored away lovingly or shared with friends and loved ones but with the continual strides made in technology and the internet it has become not only more tempting to reach a wider audience, but far easier to do so; hence the creation for this website. 

For myself and the many other artists like me, AI has become a powerful tool that has enabled artists' to not only realize their visions in all areas of the arts, but amplified them, pushing the boundaries of imagination in ways that could not otherwise be achieved. Many people are resisting this change questioning the authorship of the art and the artist, where AI is utilized, but for those like me who embrace this time-saving and all encompassing tool, there are now no limits to how we shape and control our artistic and creative abilities.

As an artist I realize that all art needs a starting point. It could be a sketch, a photograph, a line of rhyme, even a simple questionable thought, or nowadays, an AI generated prompt. My position as an artist is to find this starting point and to begin shaping it, destroying it, reshaping it and keeping the pieces that work. Sometimes I have to put it away unfinished and then return to it rebuilding again with a fresh eye. My process as an artist is to destroy it, rework it and humanize it. Sometimes the process takes over the initial idea and I have learnt not to fight this but to embrace it. Oftentimes an idea ends up as a finished piece that is completely different to where it begins. Every piece of art is different and can take a matter of hours, sometimes years to produce; and who knows if anything is ever finished or complete.

Art for me is a journey, a journey of expression battling time. Whether the pieces of art I showcase here are perfect or appreciated by those who get to see them is questionable. Either way, art cannot be judged it can only be appreciated or ignored. My only hope is that my art has the capacity to inspire.

 Ian Deal 2025

How Artists Are Using 'AI’ In Their Creative Practice In 2025: 

In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) has transcended its status as a mere technological curiosity to become a vital tool and even a collaborator in artists’ studios worldwide. From sparking initial ideas to managing the business side of creativity, AI is reshaping artistic practice in ways that are both exhilarating and thought provoking.

Far from replacing human creativity, AI is emerging as a collaborative partner, amplifying artists’ visions rather than supplanting them. Tools like DALL·E, Midjourney, and Adobe Firefly are revolutionizing visual art by generating prompts, sketches, or fully realized digital works.

This has fueled a renaissance in abstraction, surrealism, and post-photographic imagery, with artists pushing boundaries previously constrained by time or resources. For emerging talents - especially those without access to costly studios or materials - AI democratizes creation, leveling the playing field in a competitive market.

AI is poised to become a medium in its own right, akin to photography or video in past decades. The most impactful works will likely emerge from artists who wield AI thoughtfully, weaving it into narratives of care, conflict, and culture.

AI cannot replicate the heart, instinct, or soul of an artist. Yet, it serves as a mirror, a muse, and a machine - amplifying imagination and challenging our definitions of art. In 2025, the artist’s role evolves from sole creator to editor and storyteller, forging a new frontier in creative expression.

 Extracts taken from Artinfomag 2025